Temporary safety guard rail system

ABSTRACT

A safety guard rail apparatus includes a base fitting removably engaged with a lower portion of an upright post. A midrail fitting is removably engaged with a medial portion of the upright post and further removably engaged with a horizontal midrail. A toprail fitting is removably engaged with an upper portion of the upright post and further removably engaged with a horizontal toprail. The base, midrail and toprail fittings are engaged with the upright post, the midrail and toprail using common fasteners such as nails or screws. A corner fitting is adapted for receiving an end portion of each of two of the horizontal midrails or toprails. In this manner, a temporary guard rail may be constructed around elevated construction sites for worker safety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and allU.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printedmatter cited or referred to in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to fences and guard rails andmore particularly to a system for temporary erection as a safety guardrail around an elevated construction site.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Blackburn, U.S. Pat. No. 1,950,965 describes a combination postand base plate mounted upon the post, two rails arcuate in cross sectionarranged in longitudinal alignment with their overlapped and nested endspositioned upon said base plate with their concave sides turned towardsthe plate, the underlying end of one rail being grooved transverselyupon its convex y side and the overlying end of the other rail having aboss upon its concave side seated within the said groove of the firstnamed rail, and means for locking the overlapped and nested rail ends tothe base plate.

[0006] Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,348,954 describes a scaffoldingadapted to be detachably secured to a structure having verticallyextending structural members, comprising a pair of laterally projectingarms adapted to be clamped to said structural members, each of said armscomprising an elongated member and a securing plate secured to one endthereof, means for holding a guard at the opposite end thereof, each ofsaid securing plates having a vertically extending jaw adapted to belocked to a vertical structural member.

[0007] Kettlekemp, Sr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,131 describes anadjustable guard rail stanchion member for use on pitched or flat roofswith clamping means to engage a rafter of a roof or elevated floor.Adjustable means are provided to assure a vertical position of a portionof the stanchion member yet allowing another portion to be angled to thepitch of the rafter. In addition the stanchion member is spacedoutwardly of the roof or floor so as to not interfere with roofingoperations.

[0008] Palmer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,941 describes a guardstructure for installation at the edge of a building roof eave to assistin shingling employs a plurality of spaced roof cleats nailed to theroof, each having a hinge at its lower end with a hinge axis parallel tothe eave. Each hinge connects the cleat to a respective vertical supportmember at a junction portion immediately adjacent to the eave. Theportion of the support member below the eave or roof line engages thebuilding structure, e.g. the rafter tail or fascia board, usuallythrough a pressure plate, and may carry a screw-threaded adjustmentmember for adjusting the vertical attitude of the support member. Theother portion of the support member has a lower outward upward inclinedpart carrying a toe board retainer member for an inclined toe board, andan upper vertical part carrying at least two vertically spaced back railsupport members, as is usually required by safety regulations. The toeboard and the back rails form a safety structure for the roofer. Metalsafety straps may be provided extending longitudinally beneath the toeboards to prevent catastrophic breakage if they sag excessively. Theupper vertical part may also be provided with a retainer for a verticalhorizontally extending catch board; when such a catch board is providedit cooperates with the toe board to form a catch space to prevent debrisfalling from the structure to the ground and also provides an improvedsafety structure.

[0009] Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,559 describes a fall arrestor devicefor use in connection with a building having a roof under construction.The device includes a bracket for attaching to a top plate of a verticalwall, adjacent the edge of the roof. Extending downwardly from thebracket is a leg which hangs substantially parallel to the wall.Extending upwardly from the leg is a support arm having a receptacle ona free end thereof for receipt of the upright portion of a guard rail. Abracket member extends between the leg and the support arm, and theconnection of the bracket member to the support arm, and the support armto the leg, are variable such that the receptacle presents the guardrail vertically with respect to a variety of different pitched roofs androofs of a variety of different width overhang portions.

[0010] Hemauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,227 describes a stanchion, arow of which are to be mounted at spaced intervals along the facia boardand rafters of the frame of a building under construction. Stanchionssupport guardrails which are nailed through slots in rail holders on thestanchions, to provide a fall protection system for workers on the roofunder construction. The bracket part of each stanchion is attached tothe facia board and also to a rafter of the building frame, thusspreading the force caused by a falling person or large object betweenboth facia and rafters, providing maximum strength. The vertical postand the rails stand out from the edge of the roof, and therefore in noway interfere with the complete roofing process, including sheathing,gutter apron or de-edging, tar papering, and all shingling. Sidingoperation can also be done while the stanchions are in place.

[0011] Purvis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,074 describes an improvedtemporary guard rail system for use by residential and commercialbuilders on construction sites in those areas of building structureswhere an accidental fall may result in serious bodily injury. Inparticular, the temporary guard rail system of the present inventionincludes a plurality of upright stanchions having mounting bracketsintegrally formed or attached thereto that are connected by a pluralityof vertically spaced, generally horizontal side rails extending end toend. The vertically spaced side rails are adapted for 360 degreerotational movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. In addition,the tubular guard rails are fabricated in a plurality of sections thatmay be slideably engaged, one inside another, to provide a telescopingadjustment of length. The temporary guard rail system may be adapted andsecured to various features of a building such as balconies, elevatedplatforms, stair cases, and the perimeter of a floor prior to theexternal walls or permanent protective railings being erected to preventaccidental injury. Further, the temporary guard rail system is designedand manufactured to conform to OSHA requirements for temporary guardrails. This system also provides a versatile safety device which is easyto install, easy to dismantle, and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

[0012] Purvis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,685 describes an improvedtemporary guard rail system for use by residential and commercialbuilders on construction sites in those areas of building structureswhere an accidental fall may result in serious bodily injury. Inparticular, the temporary guard rail system of the present inventionincludes a plurality of upright stanchions having mounting bracketsintegrally formed or attached thereto that are connected by a pluralityof vertically spaced, generally horizontal side rails extending end toend. The vertically spaced side rails are adapted for 360 degreerotational movement in both horizontal and vertical planes. In addition,the tubular guard rails are fabricated in a plurality of sections thatmay be slideably engaged, one inside another, to provide a telescopingadjustment of length. The temporary guard rail system may be adapted andsecured to various features of a building such as balconies, elevatedplatforms, stair cases, and the perimeter of a floor prior to theexternal walls or permanent protective railings being erected to preventaccidental injury. Further, the temporary guard rail system is designedand manufactured to conform to OSHA requirements for temporary guardrails. This system also provides a versatile safety device which is easyto install, easy to dismantle, and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

[0013] McMillian et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,944 describes a portableadjustable rail barricade for working on a roof generally comprising aplurality of removably supported rail members pivotally attached to abase member adapted for releasable engagement upon the surface of aroof. The pivotal nature of the rail member attachment allows the railbarricade to be substantially vertically oriented upon various roofswith widely ranging roof pitches. Additionally, a toe rail is providedat a distance away from the pivotal attachment of the rail members forpreventing objects from falling from the roof. Because the toe rail isat a distance away from the pivotal attachment of the rail members,there is formed an extended base for the adjustable rail barricade,serving to increase the barricade's efficacy toward providing a securebarrier against falls.

[0014] Franks, U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,829 describes an apparatus used insupporting safety rails and a system in which a safety rail post supportand security device is used in pairs or greater multiples to hold piecesof a safety rail at the edge of an elevated surface and is speedilyattached to or detached from the three commonly found roof edgestructures, that is, roofs that are flat right up to the edge, roofsthat have a very low ledge or flashing around the perimeter, and roofsthat have a parapet along the edge. Previous systems rely on cantileverweights positioned well in from the edge of the roof, interfering withthe work to be done there. The post support and security device has ajunction piece comprising four intersecting extruded stabilizer barsperpendicular to each other in one plane and a fifth bar protruding fromthat plane at ninety degrees. An upright post fits into one of the barsafter the junction piece is bolted to a roof or to a wall abutting theedge of a roof, or is clamped to a parapet. The upright post has twobrackets, each adapted to hold one or two 10 foot 2 by 4 inch lumberrails. The adaptable safety rail system of the present invention forflat roofs and parapets exceeds typical safety barrier standards forworkers on such roofs.

[0015] Palmer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,150 describes a guard rail scaffoldassembly comprising a plurality of assembly members carryinghorizontally extending guard rails. Each assembly member comprises anelongated base member attachable by a releasable connector to a fastenerpad fastened to an above-ground structure surface. The connector allowspivoting movement of the base member for adjustment of the base memberto be parallel to the surface. The base member also carries surfaceengaging members on opposite sides of the connector which engage thestructure surface to maintain the base member parallel to the structuresurface. A first post member extends from the base member and, when thescaffold is mounted on the guarded surface, this constitutes a guardrail support member or has a guard rail support member mounted thereon.When the scaffold is mounted on a wall surface a second post member isreleasibly mounted on the first post member and receives the guard railsupport member instead of the first post member. The assembly can thusbe fastened either to a horizontal or a vertical surface, or both,although each assembly member is fastened either to a horizontal or to avertical surface, but not both. Forces applied to the guard rails areconverted by the guard rail support members to force moments at one orother of the surface engaging members urging the base member to rotateabout these areas, so that tension forces applied to the fastener padsare maximized and peeling forces are minimized.

[0016] Murray, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,281 describes a safety rail systemfor installation about the perimeter of a rooftop work site comprising aplurality of stanchion-supporting bases for attachment to existingbuilding structure, a plurality of stanchions removably held by thebases and having cable-receiving links thereon, and a pair of wire ropecable safety rails supplied by a pair of winches fixed to at least oneof the stanchions. The bases include a pair of plate members connectedby a hinge for adjustable attachment to a vertical wall surface of thebuilding and another structural surface forming an edge with thevertical wall surface. A vertically extending sleeve is fixed to theplate member which attaches to the vertical wall surface of the buildingfor slidably receiving a bottom portion of a stanchion, and atransversely extending locking pin is used to retain the bottom portionof the stanchion within the sleeve. The safety rail cables are unwoundfrom their respective winches and connected to the stanchions using thecable receiving links, then tensioned using the winches.

[0017] Sweeley, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,668 describes a system to protectworkmen from falling from a roof. It is especially useful for flatroofs. The main components of the roof safety bracket system arebrackets and safety line. Each bracket has a cross-member having a firstand second end. The cross-member at its first end extends forward fromthe first upright near the top of the first upright. Each bracket has asecond upright attached to the second end of the cross-member. There isa roof attachment unit including a roof plate and an upright attachmentplate. The roof plate extends forward from the first upright and theupright attachment plate extends downward along the first upright fromthe roof plate. Each bracket includes a receiver box extending from thebottom of the first upright and a horizontal stabilizer. The horizontalstabilizer includes an adjustment bar and face plate, where theadjustment bar adjustably fits into the receiver box. A series of suchbrackets are set on a roof with safety line between the brackets to aidin the prevention of someone falling off a roof.

[0018] McCarthy, U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,623 describes multiple uprightadjacent posts spaced apart that are each pivotably mounted on a firstbase plate affixed along an edge of a precipice. The posts have boresthrough opposed sides and L-shaped brackets mounted on at least one sidesurface. A triangular brace has a second base plate spaced inwardly fromthe post. Two arms converging inwardly distal from the second base plateconnect ends of the second base plate to the post. The arms pivot withrespect to the second base plate. Ropes are threaded through the boresor 2.times.4's are mounted on the L-brackets or mesh is hung on theL-brackets to create a barrier between the spaced apart posts.

[0019] Lakemont Pines Pty. Ltd., WO 99/28574 describes a safety systemfor use with buildings which enables a safety rail to be located aboutthe periphery of the building during construction. The safety systemincludes a stanchion which has a sleeve which is slidably engaged on abeam or post. The beam or post engages with a building frame. In oneembodiment, clamp plates and flange plates cooperate to sandwich theframe to secure the tube. In other embodiments, and abutment plateengages beneath the frame member and the beam is secured to the framemember by a bolt.

[0020] The prior art teaches the use of fittings, posts and beams forthe construction of a guard rail, but fails to teach the present set offittings and the manner in which the fittings are used with uprightposts and beams to prepare a peripheral guard rail that is easilydisassembled and reassembled for reuse. The present invention fulfillsthese needs and provides further related advantages as described in thefollowing summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention teaches certain benefits in constructionand use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0022] A safety guard rail apparatus includes a base fitting removablyengaged with a lower portion of an upright post. A midrail fitting isremovably engaged with a medial portion of the upright post and furtherremovably engaged with a horizontal midrail. A toprail fitting isremovably engaged with an upper portion of the upright post and furtherremovably engaged with a horizontal toprail. The base, midrail andtoprail fittings are engaged with the upright post, the midrail andtoprail using common fasteners such as nails or screws. A corner fittingis adapted for receiving an end portion of each of two of the horizontalmidrails or toprails. In this manner, a temporary guard rail may beconstructed around elevated construction sites for worker safety.

[0023] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantagesnot taught by the prior art.

[0024] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable ofbeing assembled in a variety of configurations to suit the needs of anyconstruction site.

[0025] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofproviding a guard rail system peripheral to a working site whileenabling clearance for the tilting-up of walls within the site.

[0026] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capableof simple and inexpensive attachment and detachment as well as improvedsafety.

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. Insuch drawings:

[0029] FIGS. 1-4 are perspective views of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention showing the four fittings used in a system for constructeda guard rail;

[0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof showing the fittings as usedon a construction site to form a barrier guard; and

[0031]FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof of an alternate fitting tothat shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention inat least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined indetail in the following description.

[0033] The present invention is a safety guard rail apparatus providing,in combination, a plurality of fittings joined, preferably by nailing,with structural members as an assembly; and attached to the side of abuilding under construction. The combination includes a means for basefitting 10 (base fitting) preferably including a first channel 12attached to both a planar mounting plate 14 and a spaced apart planartacking flange 16, the mounting plate 14 and the tacking flange 16laying in a common plane and presenting sufficient apertures 5 forplacement of fasteners such as double headed nails (not shown) forjoining the base fitting 10 to a vertical wooden surface 2 comprising awall of a structure under construction (FIG. 5). See FIG. 1. The basefitting 10 is adapted by its shape and size for receiving, in closefitting engagement, a lower portion 42 of a means for upright support 40(upright post), preferably a two-by-four construction stud placed in avertical attitude as shown in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment, thebase fitting 10 includes a second channel 12′ mounted in parallel withthe first channel 12, in piggy-back fashion, the base fitting 10 therebyadapted for receiving the lower portion 42 of the upright post 40 in aposition adjacent to the mounting plate 14 within the first channel 12,and further adapted for receiving the lower portion 42 in a positionspaced apart from the mounting plate 14 within the second channel 12′.The latter configuration is beneficial when the invention is used, asshown in FIG. 5, around an elevated construction site wherein walls areassembled and then tipped-up at the periphery of the site, in which casethe guard rail is positioned away from the construction surface leavingspace for the tipped-up new wall. See FIG. 6 wherein the several partsare preferably joined by welding.

[0034] The apparatus further provides a means for midrail fitting 20(midrail fitting) preferably adapted for receiving a medial portion 44of the upright post 40, and further adapted for receiving a means formedial horizontal support 50 (lower rail), preferably also a two-by-fourstud placed in a horizontal attitude. To accomplish this, the midrailfitting 20 provides a horizontally oriented tube 22 joined medially witha vertically oriented tube 24 in side-by-side abutment. See FIG. 2wherein the tubes are preferably joined by welding.

[0035] The apparatus further provides a means for toprail fitting 30(toprail fitting) preferably adapted for receiving an upper portion 46of the upright post 40, and further adapted for receiving a means forupper horizontal support 60 (upper rail), preferably also a two-by-fourstud placed in a horizontal attitude above and spaced apart from stud50. To accomplish this, the toprail fitting 30 provides a horizontallyoriented tube 32 joined medially with a vertically oriented tube 34 as aT-shaped assembly. See FIG. 3 wherein the tubes are preferably joined bywelding.

[0036] Such a fence, as previously mentioned, is preferably built tofully surround a construction area for the safety of personnel. Toaccomplish this, the straight sections of such a guard rail structuremust be joined at corners of the construction site. This is facilitatedby a means for corner fitting 70 (corner fitting) adapted for receivingan end portion 55, or 65 of each of two of the horizontal midrails 50 ortoprails 60 respectively. The corner fitting 70 provides a pair ofhorizontally oriented tubes 72, 72′ joined terminally at a right angleas shown in FIG. 4 wherein the tubes are preferably joined by welding.

[0037] Preferably, the fittings 10, 20, 30 and 70 are joined with thepost 40 and rails 50 and 60 using double headed nails 6, as statedabove, through apertures 5 (nail holes). In this manner, straight fenceor guard rail sections are constructed and joined at their corners asshown in FIG. 5. Since the double headed nails 6 are easily removed, theentire guard rail structure may be disassembled when necessary andreused again thereafter.

[0038] While the invention has been described with reference to at leastone preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by thoseskilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather,the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction withthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Fittings for building a safety guard railapparatus, the fittings comprising in combination: a base fittingadapted for receiving a lower portion of an upright post; a midrailfitting adapted for receiving a medial portion of the upright post andfurther adapted for receiving a horizontal midrail; and a toprailfitting adapted for receiving an upper portion of the upright post andfurther adapted for receiving a horizontal toprail; the base, midrailand toprail fittings adapted for engagement with the upright post andthe midrail and toprail using a means for fastening.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a corner fitting adapted for receiving an endportion of each of two of the horizontal midrails or toprails.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the base fitting provides a first channelattached to both a planar mounting plate and a spaced apart planartacking flange, the mounting plate and the tacking flange laying in acommon plane.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base fittingfurther provides a second channel mounted in parallel with the firstchannel, the base fitting thereby adapted for receiving the lowerportion of the upright post in a position adjacent to the mounting platewithin the first channel, and further adapted for receiving the lowerportion in a position spaced apart from the mounting plate within thesecond channel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the midrail fittingprovides a horizontally oriented tube joined medially with a verticallyoriented tube as a T-shaped assembly.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the toprail fitting provides a horizontally oriented tube joinedmedially with a vertically oriented tube in side-by-side abutment. 7.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the corner fitting provides a pair ofhorizontally oriented tubes joined terminally at a right angle.
 8. Asafety guard rail apparatus comprising in combination: a base fittingremovably engaged with a lower portion of an upright post; a midrailfitting removably engaged with a medial portion of the upright post andfurther removably engaged with a horizontal midrail; and a toprailfitting removably engaged with an upper portion of the upright post andfurther removably engaged with a horizontal toprail; the base, midrailand toprail fittings removably engaging the upright post, the midrailand toprail using a means for fastening.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8further comprising a corner fitting removably engaging an end portion ofeach of two of the horizontal midrails or toprails.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein the base fitting provides a first channel attached toboth a planar mounting plate and a spaced apart planar tacking flange,the mounting plate and the tacking flange laying in a common plane. 11.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the base fitting further provides asecond channel mounted in parallel with the first channel, the basefitting thereby adapted for receiving the lower portion of the uprightpost in a position adjacent to the mounting plate within the firstchannel, and further adapted for receiving the lower portion in aposition spaced apart from the mounting plate within the second channel.12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the midrail fitting provides ahorizontally oriented tube joined medially with a vertically orientedtube as a T-shaped assembly.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein thetoprail fitting provides a horizontally oriented tube joined mediallywith a vertically oriented tube in side-by-side abutment.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein the corner fitting provides a pair ofhorizontally oriented tubes joined terminally at a right angle. 15.Fittings for building a safety guard rail apparatus, the fittingscomprising in combination: a means for base fitting adapted forreceiving lower portions of a means for upright support; a means formidrail fitting adapted for receiving medial portions of the means forupright support and further adapted for receiving a means for medialhorizontal support; and a means for toprail fitting adapted forreceiving upper portions of the means for upright support and furtheradapted for receiving means for upper horizontal support; the means forengaging upright and horizontal support engagable with the means forupright support and the means for medial and upper horizontal support,using a means for fastening.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 furthercomprising a means for corner fitting removably engaging an end portionof each of two of the means for horizontal support.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the means for base fitting provides a first means forreceiving attached to a planar means for mounting and spaced aparttherefrom, a planar means for tacking, the means for mounting and themeans for tacking laying in a common plane.
 18. The apparatus of claim17 wherein the means for base fitting further provides a second meansfor receiving in parallel with the first means for receiving, the meansfor base fitting thereby adapted for receiving the lower portion of themeans for upright support in a position adjacent to the means formounting within the first means for receiving, and further adapted forreceiving the lower portion in a position spaced apart from the meansfor mounting within the second means for receiving.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 15 wherein the means for midrail fitting provides a horizontallyoriented tube joined medially with a vertically oriented tube as aT-shaped assembly.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means fortoprail fitting provides a horizontally oriented tube joined mediallywith a vertically oriented tube in side-by-side abutment, and whereinthe means for comer fitting provides a pair of horizontally orientedtubes joined terminally at a right angle.